Toxicity of high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycols in Sprague Dawley rats

•A higher prevalence of anti-PEG IgM was observed in PEG groups.•There was a molecular-weight-related increase in the levels of PEG in plasma and a low level of PEG in cerebrospinal fluid.•PEGs were excreted in both urine and feces, with a molecular-weight-related decrease in urine excretion.•PEG treatment produced a molecular-weight-trend in vacuolation in the spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and ovaries/testes.•Vacuolation was not accompanied by an inflammatory response. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is present in a variety of products. Little is known regarding the accumulation of high-molecular-weight PEGs or the long-term effects resulting from PEG accumulation in certain tissues, especially the choroid plexus. We evaluated the toxicity of high-molecular-weight PEGs administered to Sprague Dawley rats. Groups of 12 rats per sex were administered subcutaneous injections of 20, 40, or 60 kDa PEG or intravenous injections of 60 kDa PEG at 100 mg PEG/kg body weight/injection once a week for 24 weeks. A significant decrease in triglycerides occurred in the 60 kDa PEG groups. PEG treatment led to a molecular-weight-related increase in PEG in plasma and a low level of PEG in cerebrospinal fluid. PEG was excreted in urine and feces, with a molecular-weight-related decrease in the urinary excretion. A higher prevalence of anti-PEG IgM was observed in PEG groups; anti-PEG IgG was not detected. PEG treatment produced a molecular-weight-related increase in vacuolation in the spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and ovaries/testes, without an inflammatory response. Mast cell infiltration at the application site was noted in all PEG-treated groups. These data indicate that subcutaneous and intravenous exposure to high-molecular-weight PEGs produces anti-PEG IgM antibody responses and tissue vacuolation without inflammation.